25 Films By Black Filmmakers Addressing Racism, Inequality, & Injustice in American Cinema
Due to the undeniable influence of protests around the world, the majority of streaming services have curated selections of films focusing on racial injustice, systemic oppression, and inequality. Many of those films, including some of my favorites like A Time to Kill, The Hurricane, and just recently Just Mercy, have been made by white directors. While I don’t have any problem with the aforementioned films, it’s important now to recognize Black directors who have been tackling these subjects in their work over the years.
1. The Learning Tree (1969) – Written & Directed by Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks was a true American renaissance man: musician, photojournalist, writer, painter, magazine founder, and pioneering Black film director. His 1969 film was adapted from his own semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, following a pair of Black teenagers as they navigate the racial tensions of 1920s Kansas. Making its’ debut right behind the Civil Rights Movement, the themes remain as relevant today as they were then.
2. The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) – Directed by Ivan Dixon
Based on Sam Greenlee’s 1969 novel of the same name, Dixon’s film is another story that was born on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement. When a white senator needs Black voters for re-election, he campaigns for the CIA to start recruiting Black agents. The new recruits face unfair standards from the agency and are fast-tracked to failure…except for Dan Freeman. The only one to make it through the program, he’s given menial tasks and paraded around as a token of “progress” by the CIA. After a few years of gathering intelligence and learning tactics, Freeman returns to Chicago and uses his newfound knowledge to train local gangs in how to fight the system. The socio-political themes of how to go about achieving real change are reflected in the politics of today.
3. Do the Right Thing (1989) – Written & Directed by Spike Lee
Spike Lee’s name is going to pop up a few times on this list but by 1989, he was beginning to find his stride as one of the preeminent Black voices in film. Do The Right Thing showcased his sharp, witty sense of humor and helped bring his social awareness to light. Set in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, racial tensions begin to spill over starting with an argument about race representation at a local pizzeria. The cast is incredible with appearances from Ossie Davis, the late Danny Aiello, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, Frankie Faison, Sam Jackson, Rosie Perez, and Martin Lawrence to name a few. While the film uses comedy to disarm the audience, the delicate balanced being portrayed is strikingly familiar.
4. Boyz N the Hood (1991) – Written & Directed by John Singleton
One of the most quintessential titles on this list, John Singleton’s debut film follows the lives of three young Black men in Los Angeles and their different approaches to the numerous challenges in their lives, ranging from race to potential options for their respective futures. Released a year before the LA riots in 1992, the themes have remained poignant to this day. This one has a great cast as well including Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburn, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Regina King. This movie is still held in high regard and a big reason why Singleton became one of the foremost Black directors in Hollywood.
5. Malcolm X (1992) – Directed by Spike Lee
Spike Lee’s second appearance on this list comes via his adaptation of The Autobiography of Malcolm X (by Malcolm X and Alex Haley) which he co-wrote with Arnold Perl. It follows the life of one of the most influential Black men in American history from his childhood as the son of a Baptist minister to his conversion to Islam and transformation into a cultural leader during the Civil Rights era. The film succeeds in offering up the story as a reflection of the larger Black experience in America told through one of its most iconic figures. With the venerable Denzel Washington in the lead, the film was ultimately nominated for two Oscars including Best Actor but the film’s indelible legacy is still present.
6. Menace II Society (1993) – Directed by the Hughes Brothers
Albert and Allen Hughes made a handful of films together and embarked on their own solo projects but none of their films have had the lasting impact of their debut feature. They co-wrote the story with Tyger Williams, who wrote the screenplay, about a young man trying to find his way out of poverty and crime in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts. With the historical significance of the Watts riots of 1965 and the LA riots the year prior to the film’s release, Menace delves into the situational shaping of history and contextualizes it through the lens of one young man dealing with the consequences. In some ways, this is a response to Boyz N The Hood from two years before and remains one of the essential films of the 90s.
7. Get on the Bus (1996) – Directed by Spike Lee
Oddly enough, this was the first Spike Lee film I ever watched. His third entry on this list follows a contrasting group of Black men as they embark on a cross country journey to participate in the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. in October of 1995. While the march was organized, in part, as a measure of unity throughout the Black community to show political leaders a different side of Black males in America the film itself focuses more on the intersecting personalities of the men on the bus. The performances are layered and nuanced by the stacked cast that includes Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Isaiah Washington, Wendell Pierce, Andre Braugher, and the late Bernie Mac. This approach brought much needed depth to the characters and tackled a variety of differing viewpoints, making for a much more inclusive experience.
8. Rosewood (1997) – Directed by John Singleton
John Singleton’s second entry on this list focuses on the destruction of the small town of Rosewood, FL approximately a year and a half after the Tulsa, OK race massacre of 1921. The two events share a lot in common as Black communities that were completely decimated at the hands of angry white mobs, including assault allegations by white women against Black men that seemingly set things in motion. The emotional burden of this story is carried powerfully by Ving Rhames in the lead role but the film includes strong supporting performances from Esther Rolle, Jon Voight, Don Cheadle, Bruce McGill, Robert Patrick, and Michael Rooker to drive the point home. An unsettling and saddening reminder of our country’s not too distant history.
9. Talk to Me (2003) – Directed by Kasi Lemmons
Writer, producer, actress, and director, Kasi Lemmons’ first appearance on this list comes from telling the story of influential entertainer Ralph “Petey” Greene. In 1966, Greene, an ex-con was given a chance by an AM radio station in the Washington D.C. area and went on to become one of the most prominent media personalities of the time. His willingness to confront race and politics on his show made him a prominent figure on radio and television during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and earned him a pair of Emmys. Don Cheadle leads a great cast with big names including Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Taraji P. Henson. Greene’s community activism stands as a prominent example of how entertainers can have a meaningful impact.
10. For Colored Girls (2010) – Written & Directed by Tyler Perry
Madea movies aren’t my thing but Tyler Perry has been an important staple in the film community for nearly two decades. His ability to successfully transition from the straight to video market, to the stage, to feature films, to television is truly remarkable and afforded him opportunity and leverage. This adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s play, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, may not be a masterpiece but it gives a platform to the lives and stories of the chronically underrepresented group of Black women. You can see the importance of such a project by the names that signed onto the cast: Janet Jackson, Kerry Washington, Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, and Macy Gray to name a few.
11. Fruitvale Station (2013) – Written & Directed by Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler’s debut feature film made him an immediate force to be reckoned with in Hollywood and showcased Michael B. Jordan as a star in the making. The heartbreaking film tells the true story of Oscar Grant III who was killed at the hands of police at the Fruitvale Station of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system in Northern California during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2009. The incident, which was filmed by numerous spectators, quickly garnered national and international media attention leading to a high profile trial followed by civil unrest in the Bay Area. Coogler’s movie didn’t delve into the aftermath but it did provide a much-needed voice in combating police violence.
12. Twelve Years A Slave (2013) – Directed by Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen and John Ridley’s adaptation of Solomon Northup’s memoir is the first film on this list to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and the only one to actually win, taking home three total wins on nine nominations. Northup’s story powerfully dives into the brutality of the Antebellum South and McQueen doesn’t hesitate to show it to us. The filmmaking is superb and the performances across the board are very strong but it’s Lupita Nyong’o’s heartbreaking and Oscar-winning performance that leaves the biggest lasting impression. While I don’t believe it was the year’s best film, it was definitely the most important.
13. Dear White People (2014) – Written and Directed by Justin Simien
While Justin Simien’s film is a piece of social satire, the tongue-in-cheek approach helped green-light a film with an important message. The story follows a group of Black students at a mostly white Ivy League school and the discrimination they face. Tensions flare up surrounding a black-face party thrown by the white students, and that’s the catalyst for Simien to confront the myth of a post-racism America. The college setting is a good ideological place to have this conversation and allows for a hopeful resolution. Due to the film’s footprint, Simien went on to create, write, producer, and direct episodes of the TV show of the same name for Netflix.
14. Selma (2014) – Directed by Ava DuVernay
Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most important figures in American history but his presence on the big screen has been surprisingly limited over the years. Ava DuVernay’s film isn’t a biopic in the truest sense but it follows King in the months leading up to the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. David Oyelowo gave a captivating performance in the lead but, somehow, neither he nor DuVernay were nominated by the Academy in their respective categories even though the film was nominated for Best Picture. Considering the number of films that have drawn inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement, this is certainly at the top of that list.
15. Straight Outta Compton (2015) – F. Gary Gray
F. Gary Gray’s film, chronicling the rise of internationally renowned rap group N.W.A., is a throwback in many respects. As a period piece set in the late 1980s, it embodies similar energy to its early 90s contemporaries Boyz N the Hood and Menace II Society. The film follows the group in their formative years and examines the lifestyles of the major players involved: Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy E, Yella, and Dr. Dre. We are treated to a number of strong performances including that of Ice Cube’s own son O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Aldis Hodge, and Neil Brown Jr. Themes of police brutality present in the groups’ music still ring true now in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minnesota police officers.
16. Mudbound (2017) – Co-Written & Directed by Dee Rees
If I remember correctly, this was one of Netflix’s first real forays into Oscar consideration. Based on the novel by Hillary Jordan, the story follows a Black family and a white family fighting for survival on the farmlands of Mississippi at the end of World War II. When the sons return home they must confront each other and the precarious nature of racial relations in the American South. While it doesn’t come easy, the boys eventually begin to find some common ground and even form a kind of friendship. Let’s just say, the movie doesn’t end there and it’s not for the faint of heart. The performances from Jason Mitchell, Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige, and Rob Morgan really amplify the adapted script by Rees and Virgil Williams that serves as a frightening reminder of racial prejudice, even against those who fought to protect them.
17. Get Out (2017) – Written & Directed by Jordan Peele
There are few films I can remember that had the same kind of momentum as Jordan Peele’s directorial debut. It rode that moment to a Best Original Screenplay Oscar win for Peele and nominations for Best Director, Best Actor, and even Best Picture. In one of the most original stories of the decade, a young Black man goes to visit his white girlfriend’s parents and things get increasingly strange. Daniel Kaluuya gave a fantastic performance in the lead and really drove home the multiple dimensions of fear. This movie’s success at awards season and critical reception were a pinnacle moment in Black film.
18. Black Panther (2018) – Co-Written & Directed by Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler’s second entry on this list picked up a Best Picture nod and six Academy Award nominations, taking home three wins. In many ways, this film was bigger than its place inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story of an African prince whose thrust into leadership after the death of his father isn’t commonplace for American cinema and very few studios were as uniquely positioned to provide such a platform as Disney. The screenplay by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole took the source material tied it directly to the African-American experience with an eye on the global Black experience which made for a much more mature and human film than we’ve seen out of the MCU. The cast is so good with Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan leading the way with strong supporting performances from Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong’, Danai Gurira, Forest Whitaker, and Sterling K. Brown. Black Panther will go down as an iconic moment in American cinema.
19. The Hate U Give (2018) – Directed by George Tillman Jr.
George Tillman Jr. and Audrey Wells adapted the screenplay for this film based on the novel by Angie Thomas in which a young Black woman witnesses the police killing of her best friend. The story was born in the wake of a string of high profile media cases including that of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and Sandra Bland. The film came and went without significant fanfare because it was slated for release late in the year but has gathered momentum via on-demand platforms in light of recent events.
20. Sorry to Bother You (2018) – Written & Directed by Boots Riley
Science-Fiction is a genre in which all kinds of themes can be broached and Boots Riley’s film is wonderfully strange and intriguing. Set in an alternate (but mostly similar) reality in Oakland, a young telemarketer finds the keys to a secret society when he starts using a “white voice” to enhance his sales. While it brings him the success he’s long been craving, he’s quickly enveloped in an elaborate scheme of racial masking, corporate greed, and slave labor. LaKeith Stanfield stars alongside Tessa Thompson. While this is obviously a satirical film, the gravity of what Riley was aiming for isn’t lost.
21. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) – Adapted & Directed by Barry Jenkins
Barry Jenkins sophomore film, Moonlight, won the Oscar for Best Picture so it was going to be nearly impossible to follow it up another film of the same caliber but Beale Street got pretty close. Adapted from the 1974 James Baldwin novel of the same name and follows the lives of a young Black couple as they navigate a pregnancy, a wrongful imprisonment, and and life in Harlem. Despite a trio of Oscar nominations and Regina King’s win for Best Supporting Actress, this film didn’t get enough love for how good it was. The performances by KiKi Layne and Stephen James up front were so sweet and genuine, they really put a big heart and a lot of warmth in this picture.
22. BlacKkKlansman (2018) – Spike Lee
Spike Lee’s fourth and final film on this list brought his nearly four decades of feature film experience to the table and may go down as his magnum opus. The true story, based on Ron Stallworth’s own book, follows a young Black police officer in Colorado Springs as he attempts to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. The film garnered widespread praise and took home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay along with five other nominations. The pacing is great and Lee’s sense of humor informs some great performances from John David Washington and Adam Driver. This film came at a time where its visibility was crucial.
23. Luce (2019) – Co-written & Directed by Julius Onah
One of the most unheralded films of last year, Julius Onah examines the life of a young Black male being raised by white parents. The character, Luce, was adopted from a war torn country but is forced to confront internal questions and external pressures in his final year of high school in American suburbia. When a teacher finds some alarming content in one of his essays, his parents begin to question everything about the young man they’ve been raising. Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, and Tim Roth lend their considerable talent to the project in the major supporting roles but its Kelvin Harrison Jr. who really shines in the titular role. It’s intensely personal and an interesting, complex perspective that hasn’t had a footprint on the big screen.
24. Queen & Slim (2019) – Directed by Melina Matsoukas
To the best of my recollection, this movie was met with mixed feelings. Written by Lena Waithe and the infamous James Frey, Melina Matsoukas directed this film about a couple that goes on the run after a traffic stop goes wrong and results in a dead police officer. Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith give compelling, sympathetic performances upfront but the film also delves into the community’s perception as the pair gets elevated to iconic status. Ultimately, the film asks the viewer to be patient and the story is a particularly sad one in the end. With so many instances of excessive police violence populating the news, this kind of response was only a matter of time.
25. Harriet (2019) – Co-Written & Directed by Kasi Lemmons
Considering she’s one of America’s most famous historical figures, it’s surprising that this was the first movie made about Harriet Tubman. That’s a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Kasi Lemmons. Nonetheless, the film was met with mostly positive reviews and Cynthia Erivo even earned Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Song. The movie didn’t have the impact you’d expect. Even recent biopics about famous musicians saw more success, both critically and at the box office. Looking at the other films on this list, big projects tend to attract big names and that wasn’t the case here. That says a lot about the industry’s expectations for this film but it succeeded on its own merit.